Why the Blackhawks must invite this fascinating free agent to training camp

The Chicago Blackhawks have undoubtedly made some big moves this offseason. They most notably reunited with franchise legend Patrick Kane and struck a blockbuster trade with the Buffalo Sabres for Bowen Byram. They also made some other smart depth additions by bringing in Ian Cole, Cole Smith, and Jordan Greenway.

Yet, now that training camp is almost here, the Blackhawks should not be afraid to invite at least one remaining free agent to training camp on a professional tryout (PTO) agreement. When looking at the UFAs left, Eeli Tolvanen is exactly the kind of player who Chicago should consider taking a chance on.

With the Blackhawks looking to be more competitive in 2026-27, Tolvanen is the kind of heart-and-soul player that could grab their attention. This is because he is not only capable of making an impact with his secondary scoring but also plays with an edge and works in all situations. Due to this, it would make sense if the Blackhawks gave Tolvanen a PTO or even signed him to a contract before the start of training camp.

When looking at Tolvanen's recent seasons, it is perplexing that he has not been signed by an NHL team yet. Last season with the Kraken, he posted 12 goals, 36 points, and 187 hits in 78 games. This was after he scored a career-best 23 goals while posting 35 points and 237 hits in 81 games during the 2024-25 season. He also had 16 goals and a career-high 41 points in 81 games for Seattle during the 2023-24 season.

With numbers like these, Tolvanen would be a fascinating player for the Blackhawks to have at their training camp. He would provide them with another solid forward to watch, and he would have the potential to give their top nine a boost if they signed him for the season.

The argument against the Blackhawks potentially signing Tolvanen

Although Tolvanen would have the potential to be a very solid pickup for the Blackhawks, there is also an argument to be made that they should avoid bringing him in.

Mainly, it is because the Blackhawks' forward group is already pretty packed. This is because they not only added multiple new forwards this offseason but also have multiple prospects who will be fighting for spots on their opening-night roster. Due to this, signing Tolvanen could end up blocking Chicago from giving one of their kids a chance.

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Blackhawks end up taking a gamble on Tolvanen. Whether it is Chicago or another club, it feels inevitable that the scrappy forward will find his new home soon.

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